Seton community making kindest cut

Students, others cutting hair in honor of cancer victims

Seton freshman Dana Wink and her sister Rachel are both donating their ponytails. Rachel is also a cancer survivor and will be speaking about her experience as well. Their family lives in Delhi Township.

On the morning of May 20 Seton High School will be overflowing with faith, hope, experience and love as more than 300 students, alums and community members join together to make the kindest cut of all for Pantene Beautiful Lengths.

Each one choosing to join together for an emotional morning of giving in honor of loved ones all who have been touched somehow in their lives with cancer. The event this year is being dedicated in memory of Jen Sherman from the class of 2009 who died in 2012. Sherman had donated her hair in 2007 in honor of her mother, who had lost her battle to cancer.

Taking part in this event is a privilege for so many. "It is a simple act of love that we can give to others who are suffering from cancer and have lost their hair," said senior Anna Hetzer.

Senior Katie Schoster said that by donating eight inches of her hair, she is becoming a part of something that positively encourages and helps people through some of their darkest days. This is the second time that she will be donating. In 2010 - the last time Seton did this event - Schoster donated nine inches of her hair.

"This is my way of giving back to all of the people fighting cancer and to show them that there is a community that is willing to give them support as they fight this long, hard battle," she said.

Schoster said she is donating her ponytail in honor of her grandmother.

"My grandma has fought breast cancer three different times and she is the strongest person I know," explained Schoster. "When I was a little girl my grandma always said she loved my hair. When going through chemotherapy she said that if she lost her hair she would want to use my hair as her wig. When I was a freshman doing Pantene Beautiful Lengths I had my grandma cut my ponytail. That moment was very emotional for both of us. As the countdown started we both broke into tears because we were so proud of each other. Here I am three years later doing it again with my grandma by my side."

Her sister, Anna, is currently a freshman and is donating her hair as well. She asked her Aunt Dawny to cut her ponytail.

"She has seen me grow up and has supported me in everything I have done in life," Anna said. "She was recently diagnosed with classic Hodgkin's lymphoma. She was pregnant at the time and had a healthy baby, but her battle with cancer continued. She is thankfully now in remission."

As a freshman in 2010, Nicole Behler had a very memorable experience when she donated eight inches of her hair.

"It was an awesome day and I donated in honor of my friend who had ovarian cancer and is now in remission," she said. "I have been growing my hair out since then so I could be a part of this again during my senior year, and I am hoping to donate 16 inches! I can't wait for the big day!"

Ten-year-old Molly Collins is learning early in life how good it feels to give. This fourth-grade student from St. Teresa is donating her hair in honor of a classmate, Logan Schneider, who had leukemia and is now in remission.

"I am donating for my friend, Logan," she explained. "It is the nice thing to do for people who are bald because they have had Leukemia or other diseases."

Logan will be cutting her ponytail during the event. "I asked him to be the one to cut my ponytail and he said yes," said Collins with a smile.

In 2007 when Seton High School hosted this event for the first time, Stephanie Ostendorf cut her ponytail in honor of her mom, who was going through remission for breast cancer at that time. Now, her sister, Anna, is a sophomore at Seton and is looking forward to be a part of Pantene Beautiful Lengths.

"When I heard we were doing this again I knew I just had to participate in honor of my mom," Anna said. "I am having my sister cut my ponytail because in 2007 she had hers cut by my mom, who is now a five-year-cancer survivor. I am excited to participate in this event."

Prior to the simultaneous ponytails being cut, four speakers will share their experiences with cancer. One of these speakers happens to be a current senior at Seton, Rachel Wink, who will also be donating her hair for the second time. Wink was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease at age eight.

"I underwent chemotherapy and radiation for five months," she explained. "I lost all of my hair and wore hats. It is an amazing feeling to know that I am able to donate my hair now to make wigs for other cancer patients."

When asked who she is donating for, a grateful and gracious Wink has a heart full of recipients.

"I am donating in honor of all of the other pediatric cancer survivors as well as those who have passed. I am also donating in memory of my grandpa who passed away from colon cancer three years ago. This is such a great opportunity and I am so blessed to be able to take part in this," she added.

Amidst the many emotions of faith, hope, experience and love, there will surely be tears of joy. Senior Katie McCarthy is prepared for an emotional day.

"My mom was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and she will be the one cutting my ponytail," said McCarthy. "This is going to be a special event for both of us as we celebrate her as an official breast cancer survivor."

Seton principal and CEO Donna Brigger is having her ponytail cut by her niece, Tosha Brigger, who recently had a double mastectomy and is currently going through radiation for breast cancer. Brigger said she can hardly put into words how proud she is of each and every person who is involved with this day.

"This is such a selfless act," she said. "The gift they are giving is immeasurable. It will be such an emotional and amazing morning, and I am so incredibly proud to share this experience with so many others within Seton and our entire community."